Compact piano action



Oct. 14, 1969 R- FQQRIS 3,472,113

COMPACT -PIANO ACTION Filed Nov. 6, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTOR/S ROBERT L FER/2L5,

MYW,%M

ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1969 R- L- FERRIS COMPACT PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 6, 1967 INVENTOR/S AOBEPTLFER/Z/S,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,472,113 COMPACT PIANO ACTION Robert L.Ferris, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to D. H. lzlilldwin Company,Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 680,620Int. Cl. Gc 3/18 US. Cl. 84-237 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Acompact and simplified piano action adaptable for use in pianos havingeither horizontally or vertically disposed strings, the action having arigid wippen assembly fixedly secured to the rear end of the key, withthe jack resiliently attached to the wippen by means of a spring. Ahammer rail is provided which pivotally mounts the hammer butt inposition to be contacted by the jack, the hammer rail also mounting aletoff means for the jack. A conventional damper assembly may beincorporated in the action or a simplified damper mechanism designed tocoact with the rigid wippen may be employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A primary purpose of the present inventionis to provide compact piano actions for pianos having eitherhorizontally or vertically disposed strings, such compact actionspermitting a reduction in the height of vertically strung pianos and areduction in the depth of horizontally strung instruments. Anotherpurpose is to reduce the cost of the action by reducing the complexityof assembly and the number of parts, while retaining the normal feel ofthe action. While various attempts have hitherto been made to simplifyand reduce the cost of piano actions, as well as their size, they havenonetheless required a multiplicity of felted and pinned parts andsupporting rails. Exemplary of such prior art actions is Machalek Patent2,806,398, issued Sept. 17, 1957, and entitled Drop Action for VerticalPianos. While the action taught in this patent effected economies andadvantages over actions theretofore known, it nonetheless required asubstantial number of bushed and pinned parts and supporting structureas compared with the actions of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, thecomplexity of the action is reduced by eliminating the standard pivotingwippen assembly and the pivoting jack assembly. The wippen comprises arigid member, preferably formed from sheet metal, which is attacheddirectly to the piano key, thereby eliminating the necessity for awippen support rail or other pivot means. The jack, which is preferablyan angularly shaped strip of essentially rigid metal having a hammerbutt contacting finger at one end, is resiliently attached to the wippenby means of a flat spring, thereby eliminating the standard felted jackcenter. A single hammer supporting rail overlies the wippen beyond therear end of the key, the rail mounting a flange to which the hammer buttis pivotally connected, the hammer butt having a curved projectionpositioned to be contacted by the jack finger. Normal jack letolf isobtained by means of a letoff member, such as a spoon or similarfinger-like projection extending outwardly from the hammer rail andpositioned to contact the end of the jack opposite its fingered end. Aback check for the hammer butt is formed as an integral part of thewippen, thereby eliminating the need for a separate back check assemblyor catcher as employed in conventional actions, although it has beenfound desirable to provide a hammer stop in the embodi- 3,472,113Patented Oct. 14, 1969 ment of the invention wherein the hammer isoriented to strike a horizontally disposed string. A weight may be addedto the hammer butt to aid the gravity return of the hammer to provideproper retention after letofi or a spring may be employed to accomplishthe same purpose. Spring means may also be provided to bias the key forenhanced touch. It is also contemplated that the key will be provided atits rearmost end with a spoon or similar projection engageable with thehammer supporting rail to act as a key upstop and leveling adjustment.The key is additionally provided with a spoon or projection effective toactuate a damper which, in one embodiment of the invention, is alsopivotally mounted to the hammer supporting rail. The damper arm maycomprise a spring biased metallic rod pivoted to a mounting bracket withone end directly engaging the wippen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical sectionalview of an action in accordance with the invention, the embodimentillustrated being for an instrument having vertically disposed strings.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view showing modifications of theembodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the inventionadapted for use in an instrument wherein the strings are horizontallydisposed.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the inventionsimilar to FIGURE 2 but embodying a simplified damper mechanism whicheliminates felted and pinned parts.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along theline 55 of FIGURE 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There is shown in FIGURE 1, akeybed 1 mounting rails 2 and 3 of a keyboard assembly, the front rail 3bearing a conventional guide post 4 for the key 5. The rail 2 carriesthe conventional key pivot post 6 which engages in an elongated bushedhole 7 in the key, thereby pivoting the key for actuation. Theconstruction of the keyboard assembly is conventional and does notconstitute a limitation on the present invention. Preferably, however,the construction is such that the keys and the associated wippens may bereadily removed for replacement or adjustment.

In accordance with the invention, a wippen 8 is fixedly secured to theunderside of the key and projects rearwardly therefrom. Preferably, thewippen 8 will comprise a flanged sheet metal arm having a jack mountingabutment 9 and a rearward extension 10 which mounts a back check 11which, if desired, may have a felt pad or other quieting means 12 at itsoutermost end. A flat spring 13 is secured at one end to the abutment 9and at its opposite end mounts a jack 14 which is also formed of metaland has angularly related arms 15 and 16. The arm 15 projects upwardlyand has an angularly related finger 17 at its free end which contacts acurved abutment 18 forming a part of the hammer butt 19, the abutment 18being normally covered with buckskin or suitable leather 20. A felt pad21 is secured to shoulder 22 of the hammer butt in a position to contactthe end portion of arm 15 adjacent finger 17.

The hammer butt 19 has a bifurcated end 23 which is pivotally connectedto a flange 24 by means of a pin 25 engaged in a bushed hole in theflange, as is well known in the art. The flange 24 is mounted on ahammer rail 26 which extends longitudinally of the keyboard assembly andis secured to the piano frame. The hammer butt 19 mounts a hammer shank27 which carries the hammer head 28 at its lowermost end positioned tostrike the vertically disposed string 29 when the key is depressed.

The hammer assembly is biased to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 bymeans of a weight 30 acting to urge the hammer butt in acounterclockwise direction, thereby aiding the gravity return of thehammer to insure proper return after letoff. Alternatively, in place ofthe weight the hammer butt may be provided with a spring as will bedescribed in connection with the FIGURE 2 embodiment.

A letolf spoon or similar finger-like member 31 projects downwardly fromhammer rail 26 and is positioned to overlie the padded end of jack arm16. A similar spoon or the like 32 also projects rearwardly from key 2for contact with the padded shoulder 33 of hammer rail 26, the member 32acting as a key upstop and leveling adjustment.

A damper 34 carrying one or more pieces of damper felt 35 is positionedto normally contact the string 29, the damper being mounted on a rod 36carried by damper arm 37 pivoted intermediate its ends at 38 to abifurcated flange 39 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is secured toa longitudinally extending rail 40. A Spring 41 extends between flange39 and damper arm 37 to normally bias the damper into contact withstring 29. A projection 42, which may comprise a spoon, extendsdownwardly from key and is positioned to contact the upper end of adamper arm 37 when the key is depressed, thereby pivoting the damper armin a clockwise direction and withdrawing damper 34 from contact with thestring.

It should be evident that when the key is depressed, the wippen 8 willcarry the jack 14 upwardly, thereby causing the hammer butt 19 to pivotin a counterclockwise direction to cause hammer head 28 to strike thestring 29. Concurrently, the projection 42 contacts the upper end ofdamper arm 37 to remove the damper from contact with the string as thehammer approaches it. The upward movement of jack 14 brings jack arm 16into contact with leftoff finger 31 and, by reason of the resilientmounting of the jack afforded by spring 13, jack arm 15 is deflectedforwardly to thereby release the hammer assembly for return movement ina clockwise direction. Return movement of the hammer assembly is limitedby back check 12.

When the depressed key 5 is released, it will return to its uppermost orinoperative position under the influence of the elongated wippen whichmoves downwardly by gravity, the key pivoting about pin 6. The spoon 32acts as a stop for the key upon contact with shoulder 33 of the hammerrail. As the wippen 8 moves downwardly it carries the jack 14 with it,and the deflected spring 13 will urge arm 15 of the jack rearwardly soas to assume its original position with finger 17 engaging curvedabutment 18 of the hammer butt. It will be understood that theprojecting members 31, 32 and 42 are adjustable relative to the memberswhich they contact, thereby permitting the necessary adjustment of theoperating parts.

Several modifications of the construction just described are illustratedin FIGURE 2 of the drawings wherein, unless otherwise indicated, likeparts have been given like reference numerals. In this embodiment thecurved abutment 18 forming a part of the hammer butt 19 is replaced byan adjustment screw 43 the head of which is positioned to contact thefinger 17 of the jack arm 15, thereby providing an adjustment for thestroke of the hammer assembly. In such event, the finger 17 andadjoining portion of jack arm 15 are preferably covered with buckskin orleather. It has also been found desirable to preload the spring 14 sothat, when the parts are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, thearm 15 will be biased in the direction of shoulder 22 of the hammerbutt.

A hammer stop 44 has been provided for the hammer shank 27, the hammerstop being conveniently mounted on the abutment 9 of the wippen.Additionally, the damper mounting rail 40a has been moved upwardly andprovided with a shoulder 45 which acts as a stop for the wippen 8 andhence serves as an upstop for key 2, thereby replacing the projection32.

While a weight can be utilized to assist the gravity return of thehammer assembly, a spring 46 may be provided extending between flange 24and hammer butt 19 to urge the hammer butt in a counterclockwisedirection. In addition, a spring 47 also may be provided extendingbetween hammer rail 26 and key 5, the spring 47 acting to bias the keyto its normally inoperative position and also contributing to the touchof the key.

Referring now to the FIGURE 3 embodiment which is designed for use in apiano having horizontally disposed strings, like parts have again beengiven like reference numerals where applicable. In this embodiment thewippen arm has a downwardly extending section 811 and a base section 8bwhich underlies the hammer rail 26a which is positioned to lie beneaththe plane of the keyboard as defined by the upper surface of the key. Inthis instance the hammer rail 26a mounts both the hammer assembly andthe damper assembly, the flanges 24 and 39 both being secured to thehammer rail. In addition, the spoon 32a acts as a key upstop and ismounted to the leg 8a of the wippen and positioned to contact shoulder33a forming a part of the hammer rail. Since the hammer assembly ismounted in an essentially horizontal position, a weight is not normallyrequired to provide return after letoif, although a hammer stop 48 maybe provided for the hammer shaft 27. If desired, a key biasing spring47a may be provided underlying the key 5 and mounted at one end to therail 2. With such arrangement, the entire action effectively liesbeneath the plane of the keyboard and hence the plane of the strings maybe lowered to be substantially copolanar with the plane of the keyboard,or even lower, thereby effecting additional compactness and permittingpiano case designs in which the top of the case is essentially coplanarwith the keyboard.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 there is illustrated an improved damper assemblywhich may be utilized with any of the foregoing actions, and again likeparts have been given like reference numerals where applicable. Thedamper assembly is of simplified construction and eliminates thenecessity for bushed and pinned parts. As seen in FIG- URE 4, the dampermounting rail 40b is positioned to underlie the wippen 8 and is providedon its upper surface with a pad 49 which serves as a rest for thewippen. The rail has an inclined surface 50 which mounts a hammer stop51. The opposite side of the rail mounts a fitting 52 preferably moldedfrom plastic, the fitting including a pair of jaws 53 and 54 defining aslot 55 which receives a pivot pin 57 transversely disposed with respectto damper mounting rod 58 which is freely received in the slot 56. Thedimensioning of the parts is such that the pivot pin 57 will makesnap-lock engagement with the slot 55, thereby mounting the damper rod58 for pivotal movement, the damper rod having an angularly disposedportion 59 which mounts the damper 34. Preferably, the entire damper rodwill be formed from metal. If desired, the damper 34 may be providedwith a set screw 60 to permit adjustment of the damper relative to thestring 29. At its opposite end the damper rod has a bent portion 61which contacts an abutment 62 mounted on the wippen. It will be evidentthat as the wippen is raised, the damper mounting rod will be pivotedabout pivot pin 57 in a clockwise direction, thereby removing the damperfelt from contact with the string.

The fitting 52 has a depending leg 63 mounting a pivot post 64 whichreceived the loop 65 of a spring 66 the lower end of which engages aboutthe damper mounting rod 58 to bias it in a counterclockwise directionand hence into engagement with the spring 29.

As should be evident, the instant invention materially reduces thecomplexity of assembly and the number of parts in a piano action and atthe same time provides an extremely compact and readily adjustablestructure, which eil'ectively permits a reduction in the depth of ahorizontally strung instrument. In a horizontally strung instrument theentire action may lie below the level of the key to further minimizespace requirements. Where the damper assembly of FIGURES 4 and 5 isutilized, there is but a single felted and pinned connection per note inthe entire action.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a piano action having a depressible key, a wippen arm fixedlysecured at one end to the key for movement therewith, said wippen armprojecting rearwardly from the key, a hammer rail overlying said wippenarm, a hammer butt pivotally connected to said rail, said hammer buttmounting a hammer shank having a hammer at its free end, and an abutmenton said hammer butt, a jack mounted on said wippen arm solely by meansof a flat spring having one end secured to said wippen arm and itsopposite end secured to said jack, said jack having an arm positioned tocontact the abutment on said hammer butt, and means operative to deflectsaid jack arm from contact with said abutment during depression of saidkey.

2. The piano action claimed in claim 1 wherein the means operative todeflect said jack comprises a spoonlike member, and wherein said jackhas a second angularly related arm positioned to be contacted by saidspoon-like member.

3. The piano action claimed in claim 1 wherein the abutment on saidhammer butt is of curved configuration, and wherein said jack arm has afinger on its free end positioned for contact with said abutment.

4. The piano action claimed in claim 1 wherein the abutment on saidhammer butt comprises an adjustment screw, said jack arm having a fingerthereon positioned to contact said screw.

5. The piano action claimed in claim 1 wherein said wippen arm comprisesa one-piece metallic member having an abutment, and wherein one end ofsaid spring is secured to said abutment.

6. The piano action claimed in claim 5 wherein said jack comprises aone-piece metallic member having an angularly related pair of arms.

7. The piano action claimed in claim 6 wherein said wippen arm has anintegral extension positioned to act as a stop for said hammer butt.

8. The piano action claimed in claim 1 including a damper arm having adamper operatively connected to one end thereof, said damper armcomprising a metal rod mounting a transversely disposed pivot pinintermediate its opposite end, said damper arm being mounted for pivotalmovement by means of a fitting having a pivot pin engaging jaw, meansoperatively connected to the key for contacting the opposite end of saiddamper arm to eflect movement thereof in one direction, and spring meansoperatively connected to the damper arm normally biasing it in theopposite direction.

9. The piano action claimed in claim 8 wherein said fitting is formedfrom plastic and includes a depending leg having a stud, said springmeans comprising an elongated spring having a loop adjacent one endengaged around said stud.

10. In a piano action having a depressible key, a rigid wippen armfixedly secured at one end to the key for movement therewith, saidwippen arm projecting rearwardly from said key, a hammer rail overlyingsaid wippen arm, a hammer butt pivotally connected to said rail, saidhammer butt mounting a hammer shank having a hammer at its free end, andan abutment on said hammer butt, a jack mounted on said wippen armsolely by means of a spring extending between said wippen arm and saidjack, said jack comprising an angularly related pair of arms, a first ofsaid arms having a finger at one end positioned to contact saidabutment, a spoon-like projection extending outwardly from said rail andpositioned to contact the other of said jack arms when the key isdepressed, spring means normally biasing said key to a nondepressedposition, and stop means for establishing the nondepressed position ofsaid key.

11. The piano action claimed in claim 10 wherein said stop meanscomprises a spoon-like member operatively connected to said key andpositioned to contact a shoulder on said rail.

12. The piano action claimed in claim 10 wherein said stop meanscomprises an abutment underlying said wippen arm.

13. The piano action claimed in claim 10 including means normallybiasing said hammer butt into contact with the flange on said first jackarm.

14. The piano action claimed in claim 13 wherein said wippen armprojects downwardly and rearwardly from said key, wherein said hammerrail and the hammer butt connected thereto lie beneath the plane of saidkey as defined by its upper surface, and wherein said hammer ispositioned to contact a horizontally disposed string which issubstantially coplanar with the plane of said key.

15. In a piano action having a damper mounting rail, the improvementwhich comprises a damper assembly consisting essentially of an elongatedmetal rod mounting a damper at one end, a transversely disposed pivotpin intermediate the ends of said damper rod, a fitting on said damperrail having jaws engaging said pivot pin to mount said damper rod forpivotal movement, and spring means having one end engaging said fittingand the other end engaging said rod to bias said rod in one direction.

16. The damper assembly claimed in claim 15 wherein said fitting isformed of plastic and wherein said jaws make snap-lock contact with saidpivot pin.

17. The damper assembly claimed in claim 16 wherein said fitting has adepending leg mounting a stud, and wherein said spring has a loopadjacent one end engageable around said stud.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 374,389 12/1887 Battes 84-255447,380 3/1891 Stirn 84-236 1,866,152 7/1932 Cameron 84-239 2,554,1295/1951 Stein 84-238 3,173,329 3/ 1965 Camillucci 84-434 RICHARD R.WILKINSON, Primary Examiner JOHN F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 84-242 237 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3,472,113 Dated October 14, 1969 Inventoz-(s)Robert L. Ferris It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

r- Column 3, line S, cancel "counterclockwise and insert clockwiseColumn 3, line 69, cancel "14" and insert l3 Column 4, line 7, cancel"counterclockwise" and insert clockwise In FIGURE 5 of the drawingschange reference numeral SIGNED AND SEALED AUG 1 11970 (SEAL) Attest:

I wmmrm 1:. ISGHUYLER, m. EdwM Conmissioner of mum:

Mteating Officer

